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By Matthew Craft
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Americans have a thing for junk.
Stock prices have doubled in the past three years, and everyday investors keep pulling money out of stocks. But they're happy to lend billions of dollars to companies with deep debts and embarrassing credit scores.
They're doing it through junk bonds, the risky investments made infamous by the disgraced investment banker Michael Milken in the 1980s. Americans have never shoveled so much money into junk bond funds to start a year.
Since the start of January, everyday investors have put $12 billion into mutual funds that buy high-yield bonds, the polite name for junk. That's more than the $8.2 billion they invested in all of 2011. The full-year record was $28 billion in 2009.
"If the trend continues we'll blow that number away," says Jeff Tjornehoj, head of Americas Research at Lipper, the company that tracks mutual funds and compiled the numbers.
Buying a junk bond makes you a lender to companies with heavy debts and low credit ratings. That's why investors demand higher returns in exchange for handing over their money.
Junk bonds still carry a lingering black mark from Milken, who pioneered the market in the 1980s while at Drexel Burnham Lambert. Milken was convicted of insider trading and violating other federal securities laws and has since remade himself as a philanthropist.
And then there's that unpleasant name.
"A lot of people look at high-yield with a jaded viewpoint," says Jason Pride, director of investment strategy at Glenmede, an investment management company. "They think, 'Why would you own anything other than stocks?'"
Stocks have been on a roll. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 11 percent this year and has doubled since it hit its low point during the Great Recession in March 2009.
Professional money managers usually predict disaster when the public flocks to an investment outside of the stock market. To them, it's often a reliable "sell" signal. If the average Joe shows up, the pros think it's time to go.
Yet Pride is one of many money managers steering his customers to junk bonds. One reason is the lower risk: When a reckless company goes bankrupt, bondholders and other creditors still get paid.
And most people piling into junk bonds have no need to worry about the bankruptcy of any particular company. Buying into mutual funds that invest in more than 100 companies dilutes the danger of one going under.
The bigger draw is the yield. The typical high-yield bond pays 7.2 percent. With interest rates at record lows, the benchmark U.S. Treasury security, the 10-year note, pays 2.2 percent. It paid as little as 1.76 percent last October.
"Think of high-yield as the middle ground between bonds and stocks," Tjornehoj says.
Still scarred by the 2008 meltdown, Americans seem comfortable in that middle ground. They've bought junk bonds in such great numbers that prices have risen from as low as 91 cents on the dollar last October to a recent $1.01. That's pushed borrowing costs down from above 10 percent.
The main drawback is that junk bonds are among the more hazardous bond investments around. Rating agencies, using another delicate term, label the bonds "speculative grade." They're the candidates considered most likely to miss an interest payment and go bankrupt.
The price of a company's high-yield bond often shadows its stock. But bondholders are better off when a company runs into trouble. In a bankruptcy, owners of high-yield bonds count as creditors, like banks, and can expect to get back around 40 cents on the dollar. Owners of stock can expect nothing.
Just two years ago, Moody's warned that companies and the federal government faced a tidal wave of debts coming due, what's known as a maturity wall. Forced to compete with the U.S. government for new loans, companies could wind up paying crushing interest rates and be pushed into bankruptcy. News reports imagined doomsday scenarios coming from the junk bond market and referred to the Mayan calendar and the world ending in late 2012.
What happened? "Companies kicked out the wall," says Kevin Cassidy, senior credit officer at Moody's.
With interest rates at all-time lows, companies managed to borrow cheaply and used the money from investors to refinance their debts. They pushed their due dates years into the future and also have smaller interest payments.
"If the Federal Reserve hadn't kept rates as low as they kept them, and if the economy hadn't picked up, you would have had a scarier situation," Cassidy says.
Despite the predictions of doom, defaults remain rare. Just 2.2 percent of companies that issue low-rated bonds defaulted in the last year, according to Moody's. That rate will probably inch toward the 5 percent historical average as interest rates rise.
Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank, says he understands why many of his clients are drawn to high-yield bonds. They saw stocks plunge for no apparent reason in the Flash Crash of 2010 and watched the Dow take wild swings last August. Now they're encouraged by the slowly improving economy and willing to take a step out of cash. Buying junk is a way to stay in bonds while creeping closer to the stock market, Ablin says.
"People are skeptical of the stock market for very good reasons."
Published: Tue, Mar 27, 2012


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Prayer Meeting
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 6:30pm
Greenwich, OH 44837
Every Wednesday night we gather at New Beginnings Homestead to pray, which is something we have done every week for 20 years. The group has never gotten very big, but the ones who come mean business. We fight for lost and back-slid souls. We fight for the MAP ministries, our donors, volunteers, staff and the many others who serve on the front line. We fight for each other. Join us if you live close by.
The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has:
- Overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10)
- Conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36)
- Brought healing(James 5:14-15)
- Defeated demons (Mark 9:29)
God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5).
The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe!
If you have a desire to join us from afar, let us know by sending us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
God bless you!
Joe Keim
« Back to Calendar

subset: commoncrawl


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Off Season has a highly customized Marty Lowe interior. This vessel has only 1373 original hours on a pair of Caterpillar 3412. A desirable 3 stateroom 3 head layout featuring a light maple wood interior/trim with high gloss varnish. Entering the spacious salon from the cockpit, the galley is forward to port and a settee to starboard. There is a long L shaped sofa aft to port and a wet bar with icemaker to starboard. Going down the companionway, the master stateroom is to port with ensuite head and shower. To starboard is the crew cabin with upper and lower berths and a door to the day head with shower. Forward of the day head is the stacked washer and dryer with an adjacent linen closet. The VIP stateroom is located all the way forward with a queen island berth and ensuite head and shower.
For more information or to schedule a showing contact our office +786-228-8928. To contact broker, Frank De Varona call or text +1-305-812-2854 firstname.lastname@example.com.
815 N. Homestead Blvd
Homestead, FL 33030
United States


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First Person
A Teacher's New Year's Resolution: Brag More
Last month, I joined a friend for dinner and drinks after her Chamber of Commerce "Wednesday Friendsday." Sitting at the martini bar amidst real estate agents and financial advisors, all of whom were strangers to me prior to that evening, I found myself continually excluded from the conversation. When they found out I was a high school English teacher, they realized I had nothing to offer them—no contacts, no business, no money. All they had for me were sympathetic shakes of their heads and a few patronizing quips.
"Not a lot of money in that."
"Ninth grade? I remember what I was like in 9th grade."
"I don't know how you do it. You're a much better person than me."
I found myself making excuses and jokes. "It's nice to have my summers off. Why do you think I'm at a bar on a school night? When it comes to 9th grade boys, it's not me you should feel sorry for, it's the girls in my classes; At least I've learned to laugh at the boys' antics. The girls are still crying—and will be for the next 10 years."
All the while, I was thinking to myself, I may not get paid as much as you guys, but at least I don't have to put up with the fake smiles, half-hearted handshakes, and bar tabs of people I really don't like.
The next morning, I found myself in an English department meeting. Other than the topics of discussion and lack of refreshments, it was very much like the martini meeting the previous night—everyone was more interested in his or her own agenda than the companionship. Two teachers shared a best practice, a union rep asked us to wear red on Friday to show our support for contract negotiations, and the department chair reminded us to emphasize grammar instruction in preparation for the writing assessment. I looked around the room and saw the same nodding heads and fake smiles I had seen the night before. This time, however, instead of checking their phones and texting under the table, the teachers were grading papers.
At 8:30 a.m., though, the bell rang. Meeting adjourned. I was back in my classroom, facing 21 kids who would anxiously try to beat their time in a "Who's Who of Mythology" activity—high-fiving each other as if they'd won a championship when they cut three seconds from their previous best. One student couldn't wait to tell me he saw a reference to Achilles' heel on "Fear Factor" last night. And then, in an hour, 17 more kids arrive—looking forward to 30 minutes of silent reading time, genuinely sad we weren't going back to the library. In another hour, we're debating the pros and cons of Odysseus' decision to forego immortality and a beautiful goddess in return for his old life and older wife.
I find myself wishing I could revisit the table last night and tell my Chamber of Commerce acquaintances about Carlos, who shows up at my classroom door—more than an hour before school starts—to report a sighting of a vocabulary word on the 10 o'clock news. I would brag about Shauna, who read a Louisa May Alcott novel in a day, and about Roberto, who wants to start a student book club. If they would give me five more minutes, I could tell them about Kimone, who raps her poetry to applause from the class, and about Tiffany—with the nose ring and eyebrow piercing—who scored a perfect six on her timed essay test. All of them are students in my remedial English class, all classified as "the lowest 25 percent," and all are rallying.
I don't deny the importance of the stock market or current real estate trends—but at the close of day, I believe it is my job that will bring about the greatest dividends. Teachers' investments in the futures of our students have the potential to outperform even the strongest portfolio. Unfortunately, the negative stereotypes of teachers as professionals will prevail until we convince others that our job is about a lot more than low pay and summers off.
'We Must Tell Our Stories'
I received an advertisement for a magazine in the mail today. It quoted novelist Arundhati Roy stating that change is possible, and that to achieve it, we must tell our stories. "Stories that are different from the ones we're being brainwashed to believe."
Each January, I am one of the millions who set goals—saving more, eating less—to improve myself. This year, instead of just trying to make myself a better teacher by grading papers sooner, I resolve to improve the image of my profession by bragging more. Focusing on the positives, I will share my stories with family, friends, and strangers. I challenge you to do the same.
The people we meet in a bar or those we sit next to on a plane cannot see into our classrooms to witness the daily flashes of brilliance, inspiration, and enthusiasm that fuel our fires and give us the energy to teach. Instead, they hear the stories on the news and believe them. We need to invite them into our world and tell the stories about the students and the teachers we work beside everyday. Let's show them that what happens between our opening and closing bells is just as significant as what happens on Wall Street. When they hear about what we really do—rather than our complaints of low pay, unfair testing, and kids who really are just kids—maybe then we'll start to see some changes. Changes in the conditions we work in, changes in the pay we receive, and changes in the future for our students—which is really what it is all about.
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In this Bose QuietComfort 35 review, we cover the bads and goods of the Bose QC35 active noise cancelling headphones. Indeed, these are a yet another step forward in the Bose QuietComfort line. These are in fact, a notch up from the QC25 wired phones. Bose QuietComfort QC35 35 Noise Cancelling Headphones Review Intro The … Continue reading Bose QuietComfort 35 Review, Wireless Headphones
Tag: Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth
Bose QuietComfort 25 QC25 Headphones Review
The Bose QuietComfort 25 active acoustic noise cancelling headphones are a revised and improved version of the QC15 phones. Shile these likely cost more than most any consumer over-ear headphone, you indeed get what you pay for. Perhaps more even. We sampled these at a nearby Sam's Club store when they first appeared. We found … Continue reading Bose QuietComfort 25 QC25 Headphones Review


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The America's Cup World Series will return to Naples, Italy in April 2013 from www.media.americascup.com
The best sailors in the world will return to Naples, Italy from April 16-21 for the first America's Cup World Series event of 2013.
Naples originally hosted the America's Cup World Series in April 2012, drawing over 500,000 spectators on site, with the racing on the water highlighted by a spectacular debut from the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge team, who won the fleet racing and finished in second place in the match racing.
"We are very happy to be returning to Naples for our only event in Europe in 2013," said Stephen Barclay, the CEO of the 34th America's Cup. "The people of Naples turned out in force to celebrate the America's Cup and the Luna Rossa team in 2012 and we anticipate even more enthusiasm for the 2013 edition."
"We have worked hard alongside our partners to ensure the city will host the America's Cup World Series again," said Mario Hubler, the CEO of ACN, the administrative body charged with securing and running the event. "Now we have to roll up our sleeves and, in collaboration with the America's Cup organizers, ensure that the races of 2013 will be an even greater success than those of last April."
The America's Cup World Series features up to 11 of the top sailing teams in the world, racing on cutting-edge, wingsail catamarans that demand the best from the crews. The competition takes place extremely close to shore, on short, confined racecourses, making for dramatic race action for spectators and sailors alike.
ORACLE TEAM USA, the home team in the United States, charged with defending the America's Cup in 2013, is currently leading the 2012-13 series.
Following the April event in Naples, Italy, the 2012-13 America's Cup World Series will culminate with two events in the USA at the end of May. Full details of the American events will be released shortly.
Link to original press release: http://media.americascup.com/pressreleases/?id=1015
Connect with America's Cup on Facebook and Twitter!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmericasCup
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmericasCup


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DIYing Is InJanuary 10, 2012
Main image:
Americans will prefer to "do it themselves" in 2012—including when it comes to beauty, recently released Chase Card Services research shows.
For example, 59% of those surveyed in the What's On Your Slate? survey from ChaseSlateSM with Blueprint plan to keep up their appearances using at-home beauty products such as nail polish or self tanners.
In comparison, 22% will make regular salon visits—and only 2% will utilize full-service salon packages.
Other notable findings include:


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7 CFR § 520.3 - Policy.
(a) It is ARS policy to comply with the provisions of NEPA and related laws and policies.
(b) Environmental documents should be concise, written in plain language, and address the issues pertinent to the decision being made.
(c) Environmental documents may be substituted or combined with other reports which serve to facilitate decisionmaking.
(d) Costs of analyses and environmental documents are to be planned for during the budgetary process for the plan, program, or project. Special provisions for financing NEPA process activities which are unanticipated and extraordinary may be made in the Office of the Administrator of ARS.
(e) ARS personnel will cooperate with other agencies, States, contractors, or other entities proposing to undertake activities involving the ARS to assure that NEPA considerations are addressed early in the planning process to avoid delays and conflicts as required by 40 CFR 1501.2.
(f) For some activities, project participants outside ARS may be required to provide data and documentation. When an applicant or contractor prepares an environmental assessment (EA) or a contractor prepares an environmental impact statement (EIS), the activities shall be carried out according to 40 CFR 1506.5.
(g) Environmental documents, decision notices, and records of decision must be made available for review by the public. There shall be an early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental analysis process (40 CFR 1501.7).
(h) The concepts of tiering to eliminate repetitive discussions applicable to EIS's (40 CFR part 1502) are also applicable to EA's.
(i) ARS personnel may adopt an existing EA or EIS when a proposed action is substantially the same as the action for which the existing EA or EIS was prepared (40 CFR 1506.3 (b)).
(j) ARS personnel may incorporate by reference any existing documents in order to reduce the bulk of an EA or EIS (40 CFR 1502.21).
(k) After prior consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality, ARS personnel may forego preparation of an EA or EIS in emergency situations (40 CFR 1506.11).


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ROCHESTER — Traditional Russian artist and lecturer, Marina Forbes will offer a unique studio workshop on the rich Russian folk tradition of Winter Holiday Celebration and Palekh Troika painting. The workshop is scheduled at the New England Language Center International Art Gallery in Rochester on Saturday, December 29th, from 10:00am to 1:00pm and is open to adults, teens and families with children 6 and up.
Palekh lacquer miniature painting goes back to the 17th century and features exceptional details painted with luminous Russian egg tempera paints on a black lacquered background with the intricate gold leaf application. The workshop involves the creation of a unique New Year gift of a beautiful winter Troika led by the Grandfather Frost and an exploration of traditional Russian Palekh painting techniques!
It is a great opportunity for adults and families to work together to learn about Russian crafts and culture. Participants will hear the story of Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter Snowflake and will learn about their traditional Russian dress and customs. Russian Palekh painting techniques and designs are also introduced. The goal is to produce a finished piece of Russian folk art. No painting experience is required for the class. Experienced artists will also feel very comfortable in this workshop.
Throughout the workshop, students will be listening to traditional Russian music, and, during a brief break from the painting, there will be Russian tea served from a samovar under the Vassilissa New Year tree. Proceeds will go to support the New England Language Center's cultural programs. All materials will be provided. For more information, please contact Marina Forbes directly at (603) 332-2255 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also visit Marina's website at www.marinaforbes.com.


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The Sacramento Police Department has teamed up with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the California Highway Patrol, and 36 other law enforcement agencies across the greater Sacramento region to eliminate motorists' hand-held cell phone use and texting. The effort is a special federally funded pilot program using the region to test tactics that may be employed nationally in the future.
Beginning February 25, 2013 and lasting through March 10, 2013, the Sacramento PD will be out in force to issue tickets to drivers using hand-held cell phones or texting. Additionally, we will be working with the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova and West Sacramento on saturation patrols in each city. Nationally in 2010, 3,092 people were killed, and an estimated 416,000 others were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.
Because too many drivers still don't get the message that using a cell phone while driving can be dangerous and deadly, this distracted driving crackdown marks the second of many enforcement waves taking place over the next year. California's distracted driving law bans all drivers from using hand-held devices and texting while operating a motor vehicle. Yet, in 2011, the California Department of Motor Vehicles reported 460,487 handheld cell phone convictions, up from 361,260 in 2010.
Distracted drivers in Sacramento talking on a hand-held cell phone or texting will receive a first-time ticket costing a minimum of $159, with a second offense costing $279. But the goal of the special enforcement operation is not to issue tickets, but to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.
Remember: "Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other".
For more information on distracted driving, please visit www.distraction.gov/sacramentoregion.
Sacramento Police Media Relations · (916) 808-0808 · email@example.com
The Mission of the Sacramento Police Department is to work in partnership with the Community to
protect life and property, solve neighborhood problems, and enhance the quality of life in our City.


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Last weekend, a bunch of our friends got together to watch KU and Missouri play for the last time in the same conference. Essentially, Missouri leaving for the SEC means the end of the huge rivalry that has always gotten Kansans and Missourians all fired up. The game was home, at Allen Fieldhouse, and the whole town of Lawrence was energized for it; it was tangible. I used up a roll of the rare Portra800 figuring it a worthy occasion, and took tons of digital too. As you can see, there was a lot of head in their hands action, as it was one of the craziest comebacks and most exciting games anyone will ever see. They called it an instant classic.
Afterwards, we decided we had to see the celebrations downtown and we headed down for cupcakes and margaritas. Of course you can't hit Dynamite Saloon without ordering something fried. Between the friends, fun, and excitement, it is a night to be remembered. Years from now we'll be asked, "Where were you when Kansan beat Missouri in that last game?" and we'll be able to answer, "In Lawrence, in good company!"


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Equasy – An overlooked addiction with implications for the current debate on drug harms
by Prof. David J. Nutt
Psychopharmacology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
[Journal of Psychopharmacology 2009; 23; 3
> http://jop.sagepub.com ]
The regulation of illicit drugs in the UK is via the 1971 Misuse
of Drugs Act [MDAct]. That of legal drugs is via the Medicines
Act if they have clinical utility or via trade regulations in the
case of tobacco, alcohol, food supplements and vitamins.
When a new drug comes along and concerns are expressed
about potential harm, its status is reviewed in the UK by the
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs [ACMD] which has
a statutory duty to advise the UK government on the harms
and risks so that appropriate policy can be generated. Typically
this leads to a decision to classify it or not under the MDAct.
In recent years, following a systematic review by the
ACMD, ketamine (Nutt and Williams, 2004) has been brought
under the act into class C whilst khat (Williams and Nutt,
2005) was considered not to require regulation. Recently benzylpiperazine
and related stimulant drugs have been reviewed
and recommended for a class C status in agreement with the
EMCDDA risk analysis (EMCDDA, 2007). Similarly cannabis
classification was reviewed in 2002 (ACMD, 2002) and downgraded
to class C, a decision subsequently endorsed by two further
reviews (Rawlins, et al., 2005, 2008). Ecstasy is currently
in class A, a position challenged by the House of Commons
Select Committee on Science and Technology (2006) which
has lead to an ongoing review of its status.
The UK MDAct classifies drugs into three classes, A, B, C
on the basis of their harmfulness: Class A (the most harmful)
includes cocaine, diamorphine (heroin), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA, ecstasy) lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD) and methamphetamine. Class B (an intermediate
category) includes amphetamine, barbiturates, codeine
and methylphenidate. Class C (less harmful) includes benzodiazepines,
anabolic steroids, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
and cannabis. This system of classification serves to determine
the penalties for the possession and supply of controlled substances.
The current maximum penalties are as follows: Class A
drugs: for possession – 7-year imprisonment and/or an unlimited
fine; for supply – life imprisonment and/or fine; Class B
drugs: for possession – 5-year imprisonment and/or an
unlimited fine; for supply – 14-year imprisonment and/or fine;
Class C drugs: For possession – 2-year imprisonment and/or an
unlimited fine; For supply – 14-year imprisonment and/or fine.
How best to assess the classification of a drug is an issue
that is and has always been problematic. A potential method
for exploring harms has been developed that assesses harms
across nine domains; three relate to the personal harms of the
drug [acute harms e.g., from overdose, chronic harms and
harms due to intravenous use], three relate to its propensity to
cause dependence [liking, physical dependence and psychological
dependence] and three cover social harms [harms from
intoxication, (including anti-social behaviour), harms from
supply/dealing, associated acquisitive crime and health care
costs]. Each can be scored on a 0–3 scale and a value for
each drug derived from which a rank order of harm may be
produced (Nutt, et al., 2007).
In this study, we also assessed
alcohol, tobacco and some other misused substances to provide
anchor points that would allow non-experts and the general
public to better understand the harms of drugs with which
they might not have familiarity. This study produced a degree
of public debate and considerable media coverage. This taken
together with the subsequent coverage of the classification of
cannabis (ACMD, 2008) and the ongoing review of 'ecstasy'/
MDMA has shown that the arguments about relative drug
harms are occurring in an arcane manner, at times taking a
quasi-religious character reminiscent of medieval debates
about angels and the heads of pins!
The reasons for this are multiple and complex, but one
major element is that the drug debate takes place without reference
to other causes of harm in society, which tends to give
drugs a different, more worrying, status. In this article, I share
experience of another harmful addiction I have called equasy
to illustrate an approach that might lead to a more rational and
broad-based assessment of relative drug harms.
The dangers of equasy were revealed to me as a result of a
recent clinical referral of a woman in her early 30's who had
suffered permanent brain damage as a result of equasy-induced
brain damage. She had undergone severe personality change
that made her more irritable and impulsive, with anxiety and
loss of the ability to experience pleasure. There was also a
degree of hypofrontality and behavioural disinhibition that
had lead to many bad decisions in relationships with poor
choice of partners and an unwanted pregnancy. She is unable
to work and is unlikely ever to do so again, so the social costs
of her brain damage are also very high.
So what was her addiction – what is equasy? It is an addiction
that produces the release of adrenaline and endorphins and
which is used by many millions of people in the UK including
children and young people. The harmful consequences are well
established – about 10 people a year die of it and many more
suffer permanent neurological damage as had my patient. It has
been estimated that there is a serious adverse event every 350
exposures and these are unpredictable, though more likely in
experienced users who take more risks with equasy. It is also
associated with over 100 road traffic accidents per year – often
with deaths. Equasy leads to gatherings of users that often are
associated with these groups engaging in violent conduct.
Dependence, as defined by the need to continue to use, has
been accepted by the courts in divorce settlements. Based on
these harms, it seems likely that the ACMD would recommend
control under the MDAct perhaps as a class A drug given it
appears more harmful than ecstasy (See Table 1).
Have you worked out what equasy is yet? It stands for
Equine Addiction Syndrome, a condition characterised by gaining
pleasure from horses and being prepared to countenance the
consequences especially the harms from falling off/under the
horse. I suspect most people will be surprised that riding is
such a dangerous activity. The data are quite startling – people
die and are permanently damaged from falling – with neck and
spine fracture leading to permanent spinal injury (Silver and
Parry, 1991; Silver 2002). Head injury is four times more common
though often less obvious and is the usual cause of death.
In the USA, approximately 11,500 cases of traumatic head
injury a year are due to riding (Thomas, et al., 2006), and we
can presume a proportionate number in the UK. Personality
change, reduced motor function and even early onset
Parkinson's disease are well recognised especially in rural clinical
practices where horse riding is very common. In some shire
counties, it has been estimated that riding causes more head
injury than road traffic accidents. Violence is historically intimately
associated with equasy – especially those who gather
together in hunting groups; initially, this was interspecies aggression
but latterly has become specific person to person violence
between the pro and anti-hunt lobby groups.
Making riding illegal would completely prevent all these
harms and would be, in practice, very easy to do – it is hard
to use a horse in a clandestine manner or in the privacy of
one's own home! I suspect there would be little public or government
support for such an option despite the banning of
inter-species violence from equasy recently enacted in the
Anti-Hunting bill. Indeed why should society want to control
harmful sports at all? This attitude raises the critical question
of why society tolerates –indeed encourages – certain forms of
potentially harmful behaviour but not others, such as drug use.
There are many risky activities such as base jumping, climbing,
bungee jumping, hang-gliding, motorcycling which have harms
and risks equal to or worse than many illicit drugs. Of course,
some people engage in so called 'extreme' sports specifically
because they are dangerous. Horse riding is not one of these
and most of those who engage in it do it for simple pleasure
rather than from thrill seeking, almost certainly in complete
ignorance of the risks involved. Other similarly dangerous yet
fun activities are rugby, quad-biking and boxing. With the
exception of boxing, which is outlawed in some European
countries, sports are not illegal despite their undoubted harms.
So why are harmful sporting activities allowed, whereas relatively
less harmful drugs are not? I believe this reflects a societal
approach which does not adequately balance the relative risks of
drugs against their harms. It is also a failure to understand the
motivations of, particularly younger people, who take drugs and
their assessment of the perceived risks compared with other
activities. The general public, especially the younger generation,
are disillusioned with the lack of balanced political debate about
drugs. This lack of rational debate can undermine the trust in
government in relation to drug misuse and thereby undermining
the government's message in public information campaigns. The
media in general seem to have an interest in scare stories about
4 Equasy – a harmful addiction with implications for the current debate on drug harms illicit drugs, though there are some exceptions (Horizon, 2008).
A telling review of 10-year media reporting of drug deaths in
Scotland illustrates the distorted media perspective very well
(Forsyth, 2001). During this decade, the likelihood of a newspaper
reporting a death from paracetamol was in per 250 deaths,
for diazepam it was 1 in 50, whereas for amphetamine it was
1 in 3 and for ecstasy every associated death was reported.
Is there a lesson from these relative comparisons of harms
and risk that regulatory authorities could use to make better
drug harm assessments and thus better laws?
The example of
equasy when compared to the use of drugs highlights the divergence
between the activities in terms of levels of risk and social
and moral acceptability. Perhaps this illustrates the need to
offer a new approach to considering what underlies society's
tolerance of potentially harmful activities and how this evolves
over time (e.g. fox hunting, cigarette smoking).
A debate on the
wider issues of how harms are tolerated by society and policy
makers can only help to generate a broad based and therefore
more relevant harm assessment process that could cut through
the current ill-informed debate about the drug harms? The use
of rational evidence for the assessment of the harms of drugs
will be one step forward to the development of a credible drugs
Advisory, Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2002) The Classification of
Cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. London: Home
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) (2008) Cannabis;
classification and public health. London: Home Office.
EMCDDA (2007)->https://ednd-cma.emcdda.europa.eu/assets/upload/ Risk_Assessment_Report_BZP.pdf]
Forsyth, AJM (2001) Distorted? A quantitative exploration of drug
fatality reports in the popular press. Int J Drug Policy
12: 435–453.
Horizon (2008) Britain's most dangerous drugs. Tuesday 5th February
2008, 9pm, BBC Two.
[House of Commons (2006) Select Committee on Science and Technology
on Evidence Based Policy Making.
>http://www.publications. parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmsctech/900/900-i.pdf]
Nutt, DJ (2006) A tale of two Es. J Psychopharmacol
20: 315–317.
Nutt, DJ, King, LA, Saulsbury, W, Blakemore, C (2007) Developing a
rational scale for assessing the risks of drugs of potential misuse.
369: 1047–1053.
[Nutt, DJ, Williams, T (2004) Ketamine
– an update->http://drugs. homeoffice.gov.uk/publication-search/acmd/ketamine-report-annexes. pdf?view=Binary]. [accessed 27/10/2008].
Rawlins, M (2005) Further considerations of the classification of cannabis
under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.->http://drugs.homeoffice. gov.uk/publication-search/acmd/cannabis-reclass-2005?view=Binary]
[accessed 27/10/08].
[Rawlins, M (2008) Cannabis; classification and public health. Home
Office on line publication->http://www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/]
publication-search/acmd/acmd-cannabis-report-2008 [accessed
Silver, JR, Parry, JM (1991) Hazards of horse-riding as a popular
sport. Br J Sports Med
25: 105–110.
Silver, JR (2002) Spinal injuries resulting from horse riding accidents.
Spinal Cord
40: 264–271.
Thomas, KE, Annest, JL, Gilchrist, J, Bixby-Hammett, DM (2006)
Non-fatal horse related injuries treated in emergency departments
in the United States, 2001–2003. British journal of sports medicine
: 619–626.
Williams, T, Nutt, DJ (2005) – Khat (qat): assessment of risk to the individual and communities in the UK, Home Office on-line publication. [accessed 27/10/2008].


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Okay, so Bollywood's Love Story 2050 wasn't the masterpiece we were hoping for. At least it gave us a few sublimely silly moments, like this futuristic video game fight. That's something.
Other great moments include all the amazing product placement throughout the film, and the wonderful salute to consumerism when our heroes arrive in the future Mumbai and discover that ads are now holographic and can lunge down your throat. (It's awesome!) And there's a snake charmer — with a robot snake! Plus the bit where they find a derelict sex bot and repair her, so she becomes their true companion.
And the bit, earlier on, where our hero tries to use the time machine to get some nookie from his girlfriend — who doesn't put out, so he coaxes her into running out into traffic to get him an ice cream. "Hurry up! I'm waiting for my cold kiss!" he yells just before a truck smushes her. Ah, love. [IMDB]


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Technical Resources
Natural Resources Assessment
Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)
Watershed Studies
/ NIFA Competitive Grant Watershed Studies
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Technical Resources
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA, formerly CSREES) Competitive Grant Watershed Studies are evaluating the effects of watershed conservation practices on water quality, with a focus on understanding how the suite of conservation practices, the timing of these activities, and the spatial distribution of these practices throughout a watershed influence their effectiveness. These studies include two additional components that 1) evaluate social and economic factors influencing implementation and maintenance of practices and 2) conduct outreach education to transfer knowledge from this research to farmers, ranchers, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
NIFA CEAP Homepage
Watershed Synthesis Study factsheet: Identifying Critical Source Areas, July 2014 (PDF; 2.8 MB)
The National Agricultural Library maintains a dynamic bibliography cataloging all watershed studies from 2003 to the present.
The Current Research Information System (CRIS) is USDA's documentation and reporting system for ongoing and recently completed research and education projects.
Soil and Water Conservation Society — NIFA-CEAP Watershed Synthesis Study
As part of the CEAP Watershed Assessments, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and NRCS jointly funded 13 projects to evaluate the effects of cropland and pastureland conservation practices on spatial and temporal trends in water quality at the watershed scale. The new book, fact sheets, and webcast are available, August 2012.
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation — Special Issue on CEAP Competitive Grant Watershed Projects
The November/December 2010 issue (Volume 65, Number 6) of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, published by the Soil and Water Conservation Society, is a special issue dedicated to CEAP competitive grant watershed projects. Features include an overview of the original 13 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)-sponsored watershed assessment studies by Dr. Deanna Osmond of North Carolina State University, principal investigator for one of the two synthesis studies on the NIFA watershed studies. The issue also includes 12 research papers detailing findings from individual NIFA watershed assessment studies.
These documents may require Adobe Acrobat.
Bibliography (Articles)
How to Build Better Agricultural Conservation Programs to Protect Water Quality: Chapter 19. Calapooia Watershed, Oregon, August 2012 (PDF; 1.7 MB)
Oregon Public Broadcasting Story
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Bisons/Red Wings Postponed
PLEASE NOTE: Thursday's postponement will not affect the Bisons Independence Eve Celebration on Friday, July 3. That game will still be ONE GAME ONLY beginning at 6:05 p.m.
Thursday's game between the Buffalo Bisons and the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field has been postponed due to wet grounds/unplayable field conditions.
The teams will make up the game as part of a doubleheader on Monday, August 10 (Game 1: 5:35 p.m.). Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. The teams will play two, seven-inning games that day.
Fans holding tickets to Thursday's game can exchange them for two comparable tickets to any future 2009 Bisons games (excluding special events). All ticket exchanges must be made at the Coca-Cola Field box office. Please note that these exchanges do not have to be made on Thursday, July 2. Fans with tickets can exchange them throughout the remainder of the 2009 season.
For more information regarding the exchange policy, fans can contact the Bisons at THE-HERD (843-4373).


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The Real World of WOW
When Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (World Of Wonder) Saw the Dawn Of Reality TV, They Knew They Had Found Their Bible
When Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (World Of Wonder) Saw the Dawn Of Reality TV, They Knew They Had Found Their Bible
Text: Natasha Stagg
Few creative teams have done more for underground gay culture than World of Wonder's Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey. And that isn't all they document. A new book, out February 5th, anthologizes an era when drag queens went from seedy clubs to cable TV, when parties were full of monsters, and when everyone went from being in the dark to in the know.
The World According to Wonder sets the stage in 1991, when WOW made their first "clipumentaries," and the age of reality TV officially began. The timeline continues in a circling track, spotlighting RuPaul's Drag Race and its offshoots, Party Monster, Inside Deep Throat, and documentaries on Monica Lewinski, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and Heidi Fleiss. The list goes on and on, and in the mean time, the supporters multiply. This isn't a story about activism, though, it's about expression.
I'm struck by your interest in Videodrome. It feels like a complicated relationship, the one you have with television.
RANDY BARBATO Our relationship with television is complicated and it's simple! Television is part of who we are! It's our flesh and blood!
You explain it well in the book by saying that "studies claim it is responsible for everything from mental retardation to the early onset of puberty... we wanted in!" But could Videodrome really happen? Can TV/the Internet go too far?
RB Oh, we hope so! We hope TV goes all the way! Certainly it's gone far enough for Jodie Foster to make a point to remind us she isn't Honey Boo Boo (too bad for her)! TV has gone so far it's threatening the diety of the movie star!
FENTON BAILEY Things can always go too far, but that's life. I am sure, in the not too distant future, we will have implants and devices that can transcribe our thoughts. Cars will drive themselves. Men will be able to get pregnant. But at the end of the day these technologies are not in themselves to blame. And it seems that TV has taken an awful lot of shit. From newspaper critics to Hollywood actresses. In centuries past, the clergy denounced books because it meant more people could read. Today, it's considered the height of silliness to burn books. Heaping opprobium on TV—especially reality TV—is the same kind of nonsense.
RB Amen to that.
When I was reading the book, it was hard not to get overwhelmed by the amount of celebrities you guys met—before they were famous. Can you tell me your favorite coming-up-in-the-world story?
RB That's a hard one. We got most starstruck walking through the offices of World of Wonder. Marjorie, our receptionist is fierce cover girl material. James St. James and Stephen Saban, the editors of the WOW Report are always working fierce fashion and their quips make you run the other way… And then of course there is RuPaul! Oh, the stars shine brightest at WOW HQ!
FB We knew from the moment we first laid eyes on Ru that he was not just a star but the kind of person who changes your life in profound ways—and all for the better. I think we have been blessed in that respect. Tammy Faye, for example, wasn't just the subject of a documentary we made, she changed our lives and changed our thinking.
Your documentaries are a brilliant balance between exploitation and accuracy. Do you have any feelings on the "authenticity" of media portrayals—Is it possible to show someone as they "truly" are?
FB Everything is interpretation and representation. The moment you pick up a camera, the moment you make an edit, you are part of altering that person's truth in some way. Storytelling is itself a contrivance; out of raw reality you craft a narrative with a beginning middle and end. But in life the only beginnings are birth and the only endings are death—and even that may not be true. But even then, your story is going to in some ways be different than their story.
RB Tammy Faye's fake eyelashes were completely authentic—and they protected her from people who judged her! They didn't make her message of love any less real!
Tell me more about Party Monster. It's a cult classic now, and the story lives on. What happened to everyone after the movie?
RB It makes us happy that people still manage to find and enjoy Party Monster in all its iterations!
FB Well, Michael is still in prison and hopes to be released soon. James co-edits the WOW report with Stephen Saban and is writing a new book. So many of the club kids have gone on to become successful professionals in creative fields. Oh, and the documentary that started it all is being released on iTunes next month.
What is your favorite reality show right now?
RB They all are. Actually, it's a bit shameless, but the one we are loving the most is our new series Life With La Toya, which will be on OWN.
Would you say you helped create the genre?
FB Oh no, not all all. Reality created it. Rodney King. The LA Riots. OJ Simpson on the freeway. Did you know OJ's lawyer was Robert Kardashian? He took a black bag from OJ's house, and everyone was asking "What's in the bag, Mr. Kardashian?" Well he never told, but I think what was inside it was the secret formula for reality TV.
What's the next big thing?
FB We're right in the middle of the Screen Age. We are screenagers. This all started way back with Hollywood and the silver screen. Now of course the screen has migrated; we have television, we have YouTube, we have iPhones…
RB The next big thing… Volume Two of The World According to Wonder! And more books!
FB Books might seem old fashioned but they are wonderful things to have and to hold and, occasionally, read.
What about upcoming film projects?
FB Well you know when Tyndale brought out his Bible in 1525, it caused a scandal because the Catholic clergy were upset that for the first time ordinary people could read the Bible. Back then the printing press was the modern thing. Right now it's reality TV. So, we are going to tell the story of Jesus as a reality show. Maybe call it The Real Apostles of Nazareth County. Or something. If it sounds like we are joking, we actually aren't.


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Awakening to Peace
By Alison Ray
One of the key tenets in Edgar Cayce's teaching is that soul growth requires application. Not just knowing information, but actually living it by making the time for the things that are most important especially, being of service.
Last week, I met a group of people who were doing just that. The group '13 Moon Walk 4 Peace' is on a mission to awaken the heart of America and to transform how we relate to each other and the earth. They believe that humanity is going through a shift in consciousness and that together we can create a peaceful and harmonious world. For the past year, they have been walking across the United States; bringing their message of hope and peace to 42 cities. Their walk began in Atlanta, Georgia on 10/10/10 and will conclude on 11/11/11 with the establishing of a National Peace Trail.
While at Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. in Virginia Beach, they planted a Peace Pole. The wooden pole was hand-crafted and capped with a small copper pyramid. On the sides were carved Oneness, Faith, and Peace. As with other communities where poles were planted, it is intended to create a Peace Zone based on the unique vision of community participants. After a brief ceremony of prayer and setting of intention, each person helped add the soil that would hold the pole in place for the future.
Their work and goals fit beautifully with the Edgar Cayce readings. During a reading in 1943, Mr. Cayce was asked if it would be possible to raise the world's economic standards.
Not only must it be possible, it must be done! if there will be any lasting peace! But it must begin in the hearts and minds of individuals… As the vital cells of the body — when they have rebelled, and caused sufficient others to do likewise, destruction sets in. (Reading 3976-28)
In another reading, given May 10, 1944 a man working at a Naval shipyard asked what might be done by the American people to bring about a speedy, lasting peace. Mr. Cayce's response stressed personal responsibility:
We haven't the American people. The thing is to start with yourself. Unless you can bring about within yourself that which you would have in the nation or in any particular land, don't offer it to others. (Reading 5101-1)
Another reading stresses the importance of getting started:
"Use that you have in hand today." And as you use it, the way is shown…for the greater developments in all your activities… It may grow to that expression and experience, dependent upon the application of that you…already know and see in your inner self. Reading 1458-1
As to how it was to be accomplished, Mr. Cayce also had an answer:
This…must be little by little, line upon line; using that you have — and as you use…that necessary for your greater understanding…[and] greater development, is given thee day by day. (Reading 1458-1)
Analyze self and the purposes, the motives, the influences; and know that they agree with that which is your ideal. Not what you would wish God to do for you, but what may you do in appreciation of the love shown? Not as to what you would like to be, but what may you mentally give that will be conducive to constructive thinking in the experience of others? In the physical, not what you want others to do for you, but what may you do for them?
These are what we mean by constructive thinking, and as they are applied within the experience we will come to see what a spiritual life means. Not the eliminating of pleasures, for the purpose of life is pleasure, but that which is constructive and not destructive!
Live it…and…you may induce others…to try it. Not by nagging, not by finding fault. You would not want others to find fault with you! Then live so toward others that you do not find fault, but find the good in every experience. (Reading 1995-1)
The Peace Pole was planted near the Foot Reflexology walk at Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. Headquarters in Virginia Beach. To learn more about 13 Moon Walk 4 Peace and to meet the individual members of the group, visit their website www.13moonwalk4peace.org or Communitiesofpeace.ning.com.


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Arkansas has had some crazy weather these past couple of weeks! I am SOOOO ready for some consistant summer-like temps.
Have already started thinking about how amazing our vacation to Gulf Shores is gonna be in the fall!!!
I am determinded to have several cute summer dresses to wear to the River Market and other craft shows!!! I should start looking for patterns.......
In other news, I joined another penpal group!! I am SUPER excited! I sent out my first round of letters today! :-)
I am also SUPER excited about Easter!!!!
What are some things you've been working on?


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"Ugly" Cholesterol
It's not pretty. In fact, it's downright ugly—"ugly" cholesterol, that is. It can also be a killer.
Cholesterol is divided into the "good" HDL cholesterol, the "bad" LDL cholesterol and the "ugly" cholesterol. It's the ugly cholesterol, also called "remnant cholesterol," that is the major one to look out for.
Professor Børge Nordestgaard, Chief Physician at Copenhagen University Hospital and Clinical Professor at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, explains "ugly" cholesterol. "High ugly cholesterol is the result of high blood levels of normal fat (triglycerides). The most important cause of high ugly cholesterol is overweight and obesity," Nordestgaard clarifies. Nordestgaard and his colleagues conducted studies on"ugly"cholesterol, the findings of which were recently published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology.
Nordestgaard adds, "LDL cholesterol or 'the bad' cholesterol' is of course bad, but our new study reveals that the ugly cholesterol likewise is the direct cause of atherosclerosis resulting in ischemic heart disease and early death. By examining 73,000 persons, we found that an increase in the ugly cholesterol triples the risk of ischemic heart disease, which is caused by lack of oxygen to the heart muscle due to narrowing or blocking of the coronary arteries."
"I hope this new knowledge will lead to better preventive treatment, including lifestyle changes, as more than one in five individuals in affluent countries suffers from high ugly cholesterol," Nordestgaard emphasizes.
That's not all the ugliness of this ugly cholesterol, however. In fact, the risk of ischemic heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide, takes the lives of approximately 17 million people each year. To reiterate, ischemic heart disease is three times higher in those who have high levels of ugly cholesterol.
And while this study originated in Copenhagen, doctors in the United States understand the implications of ugly cholesterol, too—especially since more than one-third of Americans are obese, a major factor in ugly cholesterol.
Khurram Nasir, M.D., M.P.H., director of the High-Risk Cardiovascular Disease Clinic at Baptist Health South Florida Hospital in Miami and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Ciccaron Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, says, "The fast food epidemic here is leading to more high triglyceride levels. Processed carbs, sodas and juices increase sugar levels in a short period of time and add calories." And if you have too much sugar in your diet, then your body converts what's not used for energy into triglycerides—and, as a nation, we're overdoing it on sugar intake.
So, how do you help fight ugly cholesterol? Practice a healthy diet and lifestyle. Eat a healthy, non-processed, low-sugar diet. Lose weight if you're carrying around extra pounds. Exercise regularly—most days of the week for at least 30 minutes. Nasir points out, "Exercise raises levels of good cholesterol. Being physically active can indirectly affect ugly cholesterol by decreasing insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes." So, be sure to get moving!
Now you know the good, the bad and the ugly. But watch out for the ugly—cholesterol wise.
This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.


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I am 23 years old and live in the UK, in the South-West.
I decided to join Mugglenet after reading a few fics and being seriously impressed by the quality of the writing, not that I expect my work to be as good!
I am, of course, a Harry Potter fan and I have been since I was 10 years old (still waiting for that letter *sigh*). Nowadays, I like reading practically anything I can get my hands on, fiction or non-fiction.


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I will hopefully have an XF soon, and as part of the prelude went shopping for Insurance. Spoke with the Chris Knott outfit, and was most impressed by the good phone service, and excellent quote. As a consequence I insured my 1966 Lotus Elan S2 immediately, and will get a £20 discount on the second car...hopefully the XF when I find the right one.
You may benefit also upon renewal...... https://www.chrisknott.co.uk/CarQuote/?ref=crit19
Don't forget to quote the JAG-905 for your discount.
I am not affiliated to these insurers in any way, just a very satisfied customer.
Chris Knott Insurance - official insurance scheme
*** Remember when calling to quote JAG-905 ***
0800 917 2274 or 01424 200477 for mobiles


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I've meant to do this series for a while, but I'm glad that I waited until now. I'm not fully "there" yet, but I now feel comfortable enough to write.
As I've said countless times, living as an expatriate is a mix of the good, bad & ugly. I've been back in the U.S. for over 5 months now, and I've had many moments of clarity. A few of those moments entailed mental lists of things I love & hate about the United Kingdom from my experiences living there. Since the country (and its people) basically did a number on my life as I knew it, and it'll take me a long time to recover, I'll start with the things I hate about the country. As with any of my lists, they aren't exhaustive; this is due to concerns about my privacy, possible future developments, and my hate can only last but so long. 😐
Please note: if you're from there and easily offended, don't bother reading further than this. The following points will be raw & bitter. These points are my truth, as well as the truth of a few others who've had a similar experience to mine. I'll say what I have to say, and that's it; if you don't like it, walk away now. I don't battle trolls or keyboard gangsters.
1. Dark parts of its history – currently, Britain has invaded all but 22 countries on this planet. All but 22. If you don't understand how much that is, I'll make it simple for you: that's almost 90% of the planet… that means if there were only 10 countries on this planet, Britain would've invaded 9 of 'em. That means Britain gave zero fucks about anyone or anything but itself & its interests. And because of my experience, I learned that Britain is still very much a shady, conniving, low-down country not only on a macro level, but also on a micro level toward people. Its populace inherited the country's conquering & brutalizing spirit, as shown by the way that they treat people who don't fit their agendas, whether the affected people know it or not.
2. Sweeping things under the rug – Britain (and some of the United Kingdom's inhabitants) likes fancying itself as a diverse utopia. While the United States and the United Kingdom have somewhat different stories in terms of slavery & immigration, one thing that's similar about both countries is their love of sweeping things under the rug – making believe that things did or didn't happen or, when admitting fault, downplaying it as much as possible. It's as if they say
There, there now. Fair enough, we conquered & destroyed & disemboweled & killed & pillaged & raped millions of people… but that's all in the past! No need to bring it up again. Come on, let's have a cup of tea (United Kingdom)/grab a beer (United States) and forget all about it.
Until Britain (and any other major conquering country) fully acknowledges its part in fucking up most of the planet in some way or another, it'll not only continue affecting other countries in a negative way, it'll also continue shattering the lives of people who live there. I mention the lives of people living there because the same characteristics that Britain used/uses to destroy countries got passed down to its populace and they, in turn, affect each life and later make believe that nothing ever happened. Whether they like it or not, some of us may forgive but never forget.
3. Rude people – I'm sure I've written about this before (here & here & here). The people are some of the rudest I've ever met in my lifetime. Do you have a question or need help with something? You'll be lucky if anyone hears you and/or gives a straight answer. Are you used to saying "good morning/afternoon/evening" to people around you, no matter who they are? Don't bother doing that because it's as if courteous people are aliens from another planet. Do you need to sit down because of an injury, ailment, illness, pregnancy or being elderly? Don't expect anyone, especially the men, to offer you a seat (or anything else to make things more comfortable for you). As a matter-of-fact, a female is more likely to help you than a male. I've traveled to 12 or 13 countries so far and, hands down, people in the United Kingdom are the rudest I've ever met.
4. Child welfare – I've worked in social services for many years, and I can say with confidence that while the United States can improve upon its services, the United States is more advanced than the United Kingdom in that regard. I prefer it here because one can work in various fields, learn different practice methods, and safeguard better. I also think that social work education is better in the United States. The United Kingdom has a long way to go to improved social services not just for child welfare, but all aspects of social services (including educating & training potential social workers).
5. Cost of living – If I remember correctly, London is more expensive than my city… and that's saying a lot. And don't get me started on the increase in wealthy people from all over the world buying properties in London for various reasons (if you're smart, you'll figure it out). It's getting so bad that many native Londoners get forced out of their city, and I bet that's by design (just like my city).
6. Narrow roads – I'll admit that this one is silly, but come on. Why are the roads so narrow? Were they purposely designed to get people into accidents and road rage incidents? Even when America wasn't filled with fat asses like me (and even when I wasn't fat), damn near everything got built big. I'll take the wide 3-7 lane streets & highways here over those narrow ass streets any day. The same goes for the sidewalks.
7. English breakfast – this is another silly one, but it's one that many people over there take seriously. I'm sorry, but I can't get with English breakfast. That link calls it "splendid". I'm not fond of beans or fried tomato with eggs, but whatever… I can tolerate that if I had to. But anything containing mushrooms or black pudding… not one bit splendid. 😐
I think that's it for now… I think. If you live in/lived in/visited the United Kingdom and there were things that bothered you, what were they? Is there anything I may have missed? I'm getting forgetful in my old age. 😐
My next post will list the things that I miss about the country. In the meantime, check out the video below and pay attention to the chorus. To be continued…


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Item# WLPROJ-3877
Click To Mark Complete
Press cookie dough into pan. Bake.
Place cookie pan on cooling rack; immediately imprint heart shapes into warm cookie dough using cookie cutter; cool completely.
(You can also trace heart shape with FoodWriter edible food markers after cookie has cooled completely.)
Tint buttercream icing. Outline heart designs with tip 18. Add tip 5 bead hearts in rose and white around border of cookie. Write message with tip 6 message.


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Mission, Staff, and Suggestions
Vision Statement
The Division of Student Affairs seeks to position itself as the catalyst to advance students' holistic and successful integration into the heart of the campus, and support their navigation through the multiple services and resources offered at Bloomfield College.
Student learning and personal development are the primary goals of undergraduate education. As Student Affairs professionals, we believe that fostering this learning and development is our primary mission and purpose. We are engaged in creating a seamless supportive learning environment in which activities outside the classroom are integrated with the instruction-taking place in the classroom. We seek to strengthen partnerships with students, faculty and academic administrators and outside agencies to help students recognize their talents and use them to attain high levels of measurable learning and personal development. Our objective is to graduate intellectually and socially competent individuals who will attain academic, personal and professional excellence in a multicultural and global society.
How Are We Doing?
We welcome feedback and suggestions regarding Student Life and how we are accomplishing our Mission. To provide feedback, please email firstname.lastname@example.com.